VIRGINIA APPROVES OFFSHORE WIND DEMO

Towering wind turbine prototype off Va. Approved
Steve Szokotak, March 27, 2012 (Washington Post)

"Spanish wind giant Gamesa Energy Inc. has Virginia’s approval to construct a 479-foot wind turbine prototype off the Eastern Shore.

"…[T]he Virginia Marine Resources Commission unanimously approved the 5-megawatt wind turbine…It will be located in the lower Chesapeake Bay about three miles off the town of Cape Charles. Completion is scheduled for late next year."

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"…[Governor Bob] McDonnell hailed the development and construction of the prototype as an important step and said it puts Virginia at the forefront of clean energy technology development.

"Gamesa is partnering with Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding to develop and test new offshore wind technologies…One of their goals is to reduce the cost of wind power."